MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

7/31 Cubs face D-Lee, Pirates Monday

Last August, when the Cubs traded Derrek Lee to the Braves, it created an strange scenario. Lee was dealt the day before the Braves played the Cubs at Wrigley Field, so he had to face his former teammates about 48 hours after he left. The Gold Glove first baseman played in Chicago from 2004-10.

It’s almost the same situation this year as the Orioles traded Lee to the Pirates, whom the Cubs face on Monday. That will be the first baseman’s first game with his new team.

“He’s a very professional player, a quiet, silent leader,” Geovany Soto said of Lee. “I had the pleasure of playing with him for a couple years and it was special. He’s always upbeat, he’s always positive. I think he’ll be a good addition to the Pirates.”

So, how was it last year when the Cubs had to face Lee in his first game with the Braves?

“It’s a litte awkward, but good for him,” Soto said. “He’s got a chance to compete and get to the playoffs and best of luck.”

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